Comparative therapeutic efficacy of adenocin and non-glycoside cardiotonic drugs in chronic heart failure at rest and under conditions of heart overload.

Experiments were performed on the model of chronic heart failure. Functional capacity of myocardial structures under conditions of maximum pressure overload was within the upper limit of normal after treatment with Adenocin. The myocardial functional reserve and potential capacity index were shown to increase to normal under these conditions. Dobutamine, levosimendan, and milrinone increased functional capacity under conditions of maximum pressure overload. Treatment with adenocin restored diastolic function of the heart under conditions of maximum pressure overload. The end-diastolic pressure increased, but remained 1.7 times below the level observed in heart failure. After treatment with dobutamine and milrinone, the end-diastolic pressure (8th episode of ligation) did not differ from the level observed in heart failure, while after administration of levosimendan this parameter decreased by 31%. Contraction-relaxation coupling was completely restored under the influence of Adenocin in all episodes of ligation both before and after removal of the ligature. Nearly all animals with heart failure were resistant to 8 episodes of ligation after treatment with Adenocin (89 vs. 96% under normal conditions). Under these conditions, the survival rate of animals after administration of levosimendan, milrinone, and dobutamine was 65, 60, and 61%, respectively, (the mortality rate of animals with heart failure was 75%). Adenocin, a cardiotonic drug with cardioprotective properties, in contrast to other cardiotonic drugs, has a modulatory effect on the system of cell energy supply, restores myocardial reserves, and improves myocardial function under conditions of overload.

Efficiency of refracterin in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency caused by coronary heart disease.

Composite preparation refracterin administered in a dose of 300 mg/day for 3 days in addition to routine therapy significantly improved the results of treatment of severe cardiac insufficiency of ischemic genesis compared to placebo. Improvement of clinical status of patients is determined by positive dynamics of systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle.

Amiodarone-associated "torsade de pointes". Relevance of concomitant cardiovascular medication in a patient with atrial fibrillation and structural heart disease.

A 69 year old female with history of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation suffered from occipital apoplexy. Under treatment with amiodarone 600 mg daily and concomitant medication with beta-acetyldigoxine (0.1 mg daily) and bisoprolole (1.25 mg daily), significant QT-prolongation (max. 700 ms; QTc: 614 ms) could be documented. Out of normofrequent sinus rhythm but as well out of bradycardia, the patient developed repetitive short-lasting "torsade de pointes" tachycardias (320 bpm) which terminated spontaneously. Serum electrolytes, plasma levels of digoxine (1.76 ng/ml) and amiodarone (1.9 mcg/ml) were within therapeutic range. This case report is the first to describe induction of amiodarone-associated "torsade de pointes" tachycardia during concomitant beta-blocker and digitalis medication in a patient with atrial fibrillation and structural heart disease. This points towards an elevated risk for proarrhythmia under this triple therapy.

[The subcellular pathophysiology of heart failure due to toxic-allergic myocarditis and the action of refracterin on intracardiac hemodynamics and the functional state of the 3 subcellular cardiomyocyte systems responsible for the act of contraction-relaxation]. / Subkletochnaia patofiziologiia nedostatochnosti serdtsa, obuslovennoi toksiko-allergicheskim miokarditom, i deistvie refrakterina na vnutriserdechnuiu gemodinamiku i funktsional'noe sostoianie trekh subkletochnykh sistem kardiomiotsita otvetstvennykh za akt sokrashchenie--rasslablenie.

It is shown that cardiotropic drug refracterin promotes recovery of cardiac contraction and relaxation, their coordination destroyed in cardiac failure (CF) caused by 10-day toxico-allergic myocarditis (TAM). Pumping capacity of the heart returns to normal after normalization of functional activity of three systems of cardiomyocyte responsible for contraction-relaxation: contractile proteins, energy supply and calcium transport. The key process is refracterin-related reestablishment of normal content and proportion of adenyl nucleotides and creatininephosphate and regulation role of phosphorylation and energy of metabolic processes in the cells and their interaction. Thus, refracterin effectiveness lies in its ability to interfere in intracellular metabolic processes in the myocardium, to reestablish normal homeostasis of the systems responsible for contraction-relaxation function and eventually to remove left ventricular cardiac dysfunction.

Effects of calcium antagonists in patients with coronary disease and heart failure: left ventricular function following nisoldipine measured by radionuclide ventriculography.

Thirty-two patients with chronic heart failure were investigated with radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during exercise. The global ejection fraction (EF), ejection rate, ejection time, and filling rate were measured. The patients were subdivided into three subgroups: patients with extremely (< 25%), moderately (25-33%), and mildly decreased EF (33-40%). All patients were investigated by thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy and the correlation between ejection parameters and infarct size was investigated. In a random protocol 17 patients (14 men, 3 women, mean age of 54.6 years) received beta-acetyldigoxin at a dose of 0.3 mg daily over 4 weeks, 15 patients (13 men, 2 women, mean age of 58.2 years) received nisoldipine at a dose of 20 mg daily. Patients on digitalis showed a further lowering of the extremely decreased EF (-1%), but in patients with moderately decreased EF, digoxin produced a marked increase in EF of +8% (p < 0.001). In mildly decreased EF, there was no significant change (+0.3%, n.s.). Nisoldipine produced an increase in pump function (+2%) in the group with extremely decreased EF up to 9% in some individual cases. A significant increase (+5%) was achieved in moderately decreased EF, while patients with mildly decreased EF did not respond. Thus, nisoldipine may be indicated in the treatment of heart failure after repeated myocardial infarctions, in particular in patients with severely decreased ejection fraction.

Pharmacokinetics of pengitoxin and its therapeutic efficacy in congestive heart failure.

In a therapeutic study, 120 inpatients suffering from congestive heart failure were treated with a daily maintenance dose of 0.3 mg pengitoxin (penta-acetyl-gitoxin) over several weeks or months. The plasma level and the glycoside concentration in urine were measured by radioimmunoassay. The therapeutic effects were evaluated considering clinical signs and criteria following the functional capacity according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA). In 27 patients both plasma and urine concentration were measured during 2 weeks after the beginning of the pengitoxin therapy. On the 3rd day of the pengitoxin dosage schedule, a mean plasma level of 18.1 ng.ml-1 (SD 5.1 ng.ml-1) was measured. During this day 26.6% of the daily administered glycoside dose was excreted in urine. In 26 of the 120 patients the mean steady state plasma level was between 7.6 and 22.5 ng.ml-1. A maximum of frequency was found in the 17.6 to 22.5 ng-subclass. In 118 patients the mean urinary excretion of 16-acetyl-gitoxin reached 24.7% (SD 11.8%) of the administered dose. The creatinine clearance and the 16-acetyl-gitoxin plasma level did not correlate, while between the renal clearance values of creatinine and the glycoside a correlation was found, however, it was of no significance for dosage schedules in patients with impaired renal function. After treatment, the NYHA classes III and II were reached in 57 patients; in 3 patients suffering from renal diseases, the NYHA class I remained unchanged. In 90 patients the clinical signs improved and in 27 patients the clinical situation remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Determinants of plasma digoxin and digitoxin concentrations in elderly patients. A multivariate analysis]. / Determinanten von Digoxinund Digitoxinplasmakonzentrationen bei älteren patienten. Eine multivariate Analyse.

In 1063 patients (greater than or equal to 60 years, 531 men, 532 women) the plasma concentration during digitalis maintenance therapy (metildigoxin, n = 356, beta-acetyldigoxin, n = 359, and digitoxin, n = 348) was determined and related to sex, age, body weight, serum potassium, renal function and the prescribed daily maintenance dose. Classification of treatment groups according to renal function (Crea less than or equal to 1.3 mg/dl parallel greater than 1.3 mg/dl) did not show any difference of the mean maintenance doses. In multiple linear regression analyses only a weak relationship between plasma digitalis concentration and the studied variables was found, which could be equally attributed to dose, creatinine and serum potassium in the digoxin derivative groups, whereas for digitoxin only body weight had a significant effect on the plasma concentration. During a maintenance dose of 0.07 or 0.1 mg/die which was given to 87% of patients in the digitoxin group, 70% were found to have plasma levels within the therapeutic range.

[Pharmacokinetic and cardiac efficacy of beta-acetyldigoxin and digitoxin in combination therapy with diltiazem]. / Pharmakokinetik und kardiale Wirksamkeit von beta-Acetyldigoxin und Digitoxin unter einer Kombinationstherapie mit Diltiazem.

The effect of diltiazem (D) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of beta-acetyldigoxin (AD; n = 12) and digitoxin (DGT; n = 10) was studied in 22 patients with cardiac insufficiency stages II-III by the New York Heart Association. Glycoside plasma concentration and renal excretion as well as electrocardiogram [heart rate, atrioventricular transconduction time (PQ), duration of electrical systole corrected for heart rate (QTc), mean amplitude of T-waves in leads V2 to V6 (TV2-6)] and systole time intervals [total electromechanical systole index (QS21), left ventricular ejection time index (LVETI), pre-ejection period index (PEPI), PEP/LVET ratio] were recorded repeatedly before and during co-administration of 180 mg/day D. In eight patients digoxin plasma levels increased continuously during additional D administration. After reaching a new steady state at 0.93 +/- 0.35 ng/ml digoxin concentrations were at an average 43% higher than before D administration (0.65 +/- 0.27 ng/ml) with a simultaneous increase in renal glycoside excretion. The other four patients showed neither changes in digoxin concentrations in plasma nor in renal glycoside excretion. Only half the patients treated with DGT and D revealed an increase in DGT plasma levels of 21.4%. Daily renal glycoside excretion was not altered by D administration. In accordance to the increasing AD plasma concentration, PQ-interval was prolonged and T-wave flattening was intensified, whereas the systolic time intervals after concomitant treatment of AD and D did not differ from those after AD alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of nifedipine and diltiazem on plasma levels and renal excretion of beta-acetyldigoxin.

To determine whether nifedipine or diltiazem affect digoxin kinetics, glycoside plasma concentrations and renal excretion were measured before and during dosing in 23 patients with cardiac insufficiency achieving steady-state conditions. Mean (+/- SD) digoxin plasma concentration was 0.64 +/- 0.22 before and 0.61 +/- 0.21 ng/ml during nifedipine dosing in 11 subjects over a period of 10 to 14 days. Renal digoxin clearance was not influenced by nifedipine, whereas total body clearance and extrarenal clearance of digoxin increased slightly. In contrast, diltiazem resulted in a 24% to 70% (means = 46%) increase in plasma digoxin concentrations in eight of 12 subjects. Renal digoxin clearance was not influenced by diltiazem, whereas total body clearance and extrarenal clearance of digoxin were reduced 28% and 44% in five of the eight subjects in whom renal digoxin excretion was measured. From these data it was concluded that nifedipine has no significant effects on digoxin kinetics, but that digoxin plasma concentrations should be controlled in subjects receiving digoxin with diltiazem until new steady-state digoxin concentrations are established, and that the digoxin dose be reduced if there is evidence of toxicity.

[Timely diagnosis and successful therapy of a fetal cardiac arrhythmia. Clinical case contribution to prenatal diagnosis]. / Rechtzeitige Diagnose und erfolgreiche Therapie einer Herzrhythmusstörung beim Feten. Kasuistischer Beitrag zur pränatalen Diagnostik.

The intention of this case report in its dramatic was to illustrate the importance of an intensive prenatal diagnosis in order succeed by an early treatment. During routine prenatal care a fetal intrauterine persistent severe tachycardia resistant to therapy was developed in the 32nd gestational week by chance. Further intensive ultrasonic diagnostics, trial of drug cardioversion, untimely caesarean section immediately following the first signs of fetal cardiac insufficiency, presence of a specialist in pediatric cardiology and instant therapy made it avoid the otherwise lethal event.

[Closed intracardiac cardioversion in therapy resistant atrial flutter]. / Geschlossene intrakardiale Kardioversion bei therapierefraktärem Vorhofflattern.

Cardiac frequency could not be lowered in a 62-year-old patient with atrial flutter and 2:1 conduction. Using an electrode catheter positioned in the His bundle area an electric current of 80 Ws was effected. A third-degree atrioventricular block developed which regressed after 6 hours. The electrophysiologic assessment after one week showed a marked diminution of AV node conduction capacity.

Clinical implications of serum digoxin concentrations.

Factors influencing serum digoxin concentrations, and the relation of these levels to classical electrocardiographic (ECG) and clinical manifestations of toxicity, were assessed in a series of 463 consecutively hospitalized patients of mean age 58 years. The majority of patients were receiving beta-acetyldigoxin or beta-methyldigoxin. Age, sex, creatinine clearance, and weight-corrected dose collectively explained less than 7% of overall variability in serum digoxin concentrations; creatinine clearance, which declined significantly with age (r=-0.36, p less than 0.001) was the most important of these determinants. ST-segment depression was present in the majority of patients and became more common at higher serum digoxin concentrations. However, PR interval, QRS durations, QT interval, or the presence of AV block were not associated with serum levels. Among 75 patients with atrial fibrillation, ventricular rate did not decline with increasing digoxin concentrations. The presence of gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, or psychiatric symptoms classically attributed to digitalis toxicity was not associated with serum digoxin concentration. Serum levels of digoxin appear to be of limited value in assessing the degree of digitalization.

Digoxin-quinidine interaction in patients with renal failure.

Investigations were performed in order to study whether or not quinidine would exert similar effects on the serum digoxin concentration in patients with renal failure as in normal subjects. Fourteen out of fifteen patients showed a significant increase of the serum digoxin level after four days of quinidine application. This indicates, that the quinidine effect is not solely caused by a decrease of the renal digoxin clearance, although nine patients, not being hemodialysed, revealed a correlation between their creatinine clearance and the rise of the serum digoxin concentration after quinidine. As however, the patients on hemodialysis did not show higher digoxin levels than those treated conservatively, it is suggested that the degree of the uremic intoxication might be responsible for the observed correlation.

[Glycoside therapy in elderly patients (author's transl)]. / Zur Glykosidtherapie in höherem Lebensalter.

Despite decreasing renal function with increasing age, an elevated level of serum glycoside concentration is not noted in elderly patients after undergoing continuous therapy with 0,2 or 0,3 mg beta-methyldigoxin, 0,4 mg beta-acetyldigoxin or 0,5 mg digoxin respectively, as long as the serum creatinine is still normal. Therefore, it is sufficient to determine the serum creatinine level before initiating glycoside therapy with digoxin or digoxin derivates. As a rule, a continuous oral therapy using 0,2 mg beta-methyldigoxin, 0,3 mg beta-acetyldigoxin or 0,375 mg digoxin can be carried out on elderly patients having a normal serum creatinine level, without risk and without danger of toxic side-effects. There is evidence that glycoside tolerance is decreased in the elderly. In elderly patients with a serum concentration level of 2,3 ng/ml or higher, 87% showed toxic side-effects, whereas in the younger age group only 72% of the patients with equally high serum glycoside concentrations were intoxicated. Therefore, oral doses exceeding 0,2 mg beta-methyl-digoxin, 0,3 mg beta-acetyldigoxin, or 0,375 mg digoxin should be carefully controlled by EKG in elderly patients. The most frequent cause of intoxication in elderly patients (75% of the cases) was an impaired renal function with elevation of the serum creatinine level,--a factor which was not taken into consideration in determining the glycoside dosage.